Customs officer plotted to get passports for fictitious Russians

A senior Customs officer yesterday admitted plotting to unlawfully obtain passports for four fictitious people whose names were supplied by a Russian undercover agent of the ICAC.

Senior Inspector of the Customs and Excise Department Chu Hak-lan, 40, also admitted conspiring to launder money he was told had come from extortion, prostitution, smuggling of women and gun-trading in Russia, the District Court heard.

He helped the Independent Commission Against Corruption agent, known as Richard, arrange for Brazilian passports for a Russian man and a family of three - all fictitious applicants, prosecutor Ian McWalters said.

The charge for each of the passports would be $250,000, the court heard.

Another undercover agent who speaks Russian was arranged to masquerade as a representative from an organised crime group which wanted to launder $2 million each month through Chu.

On June 6 last year, Richard, under the instruction of the ICAC, told Chu that he was interested in obtaining Brazilian passports.